Israel Arrests Scores of Palestinians After Deadly Jerusalem Shooting

Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces during a protest, showing solidarity with Misbah Abu Sbeih in the West Bank town of al-Ram, north of Jerusalem, on Oct. 9, 2016. Misbah Abu Sbeih was shot dead by Israeli security forces after he allegedly staged a gun-attack in front of Israeli police headquarters in east Jerusalem. Photo: Getty Images

Israeli authorities have detained dozens of Palestinians in the wake of a fatal shooting Sunday in East Jerusalem, according to Agence France Presse.

Those arrested late Sunday and early Monday include 31 Palestinians celebrating in memory of 39-year-old Palestinian attacker Misbah Abu Sbeih, who claimed two lives during the drive-by assault. An additional 15 Palestinians were apprehended for throwing stones and molotov cocktails at authorities as crowds turned violent Sunday.

The arrests coincided with a raid conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces Monday on the attacker's family home in East Jerusalem. One soldier was lightly injured during the operation when locals from the Al-Ram neighborhood attacked Israeli forces with a pipe bomb, Haaretz reported. The IDF reportedly plans to demolish the residence.

Israeli police also took into custody members of the attacker's family, including Sbeih's wife and 14-year-old daughter, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency wrote. Her arrest comes after the girl published a video on social media praising her father's actions. Palestinian news agency Wikaalat Al-Rai posted the video on their Facebook page under the title "What the daughter of martyred hero Misbah Abu Sbeih said."

Two more relatives, Muammar and Nbeih Abu Sbeih, were detained near the Al-Aqsa mosque on Sunday, according to a tweet from the Quds News Network.

Misbah Abu Sbeih opened fire Sunday from his vehicle at the Ammunition Hill light-rail station near the Israeli police headquarters in Jerusalem. He shot seven people before being fatally shot by Israeli police. Two Israeli victims, a 30-year-old Israeli police officer and a 60-year old woman, later succumbed to their injuries. Sbeih was due to face jail time that same day for assaulting an Israeli police officer in 2013.

The Department of State released a statement Sunday condemning the attack in Jerusalem, which it described as a "reprehensible and cowardly act."

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump also extended their condolences to the families of those killed during the attack, which occurred hours before the second presidential debate in Virginia.

From Oct.1, 2015 to Sept. 30, 274 individuals were killed as a result of Palestinian-Israeli violence including 235 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, 2 Americans, one Eritrean, one Sudanese and one Jordanian, according to statistics gathered by Ma'an News Agency.

While most of these deaths occurred between last October and March, Israeli officials were concerned that recent violence could escalate during Judaism's holiest day, Yom Kippur, which begins sunset Tuesday and ends nightfall Wednesday.

Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan confirmed these fears in a statement published by the Times of Israel, warning that lone-wolf attacks would continue as a result of heightened tensions.

A white Fiat van rammed into pedestrians outside enjoying a late afternoon stroll on Las Ramblas in Barcelona on Thursday killing at least 13 people and leaving hundreds injured. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.